Agitator for ore treatment.



C. RUlNSON. GITATOR FOR ORE TREATMENT. APPLICATION FILED AUG. rai 1912.

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C. ROBINSON.

AGITATOR FOR ORE TREATMENT.

APPLICATION FILED AUG.I6.1912.

1,156,372., Patented 00u12, 1915.

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CYRUS 'ROBINSOIL OF MOUNT VERNON, NEW YORK, ASSIGNQR. TO METALLURGICAL ENGINEERING 6c PROCESS CORPORATION, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

AGITATOR FOR ORE TREATMENT.

Specification of Letters Patent.

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Application filed August 16, 1912. Serial No. 715,'515.

5 li'estchester and State of `New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in fiitators for Ore Treatment, of

which the iollowing' is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompany- 10 ins; drawings.

This invention relates to improvements in agitating devices, especially devices adapted and intended for agitating ore pulp or other material containing soluble ingredients and l5 a solvent adapted to act upon the said soluble ingredients.

It is well known that in many cases the principal ('liiiiculties and expenses incident to the chemical extraction of metal values iro'm ores is due to the necessity for mechanically agitating the solution and ore and to the time required for completing' the process.' These tliliicult'ies are especiallyprevalent in the treatment of slimes, 'or of pulp containing an unduly large proportion of slimes. It is also well known that stirring `a mixture ot' solvent solution and ore continuously does not result in morethan approximate breaking vup of the mixture, as

the solvent and the'particles ot ore tend to move together in the same relative positions.l

It is probably correct to state that a particle of ore containing metales surrounded by a film oi the/solution and that this immediate film or envelop of solvent becomes very quickly saturated. The `further dissolving of metal however practically stops until the lm of saturated solution can be removed from the particles and replaced by a new film of That this condition exists is borne out by the fact that it is found in plants using the percolation process that the first treatment with a strong solution merely loosens the values but does not remove Several subsequent washings with weaker solutions and fresh water are needed to remove the values, t'. c. to break up and carry the films of strong value containing solutions which have formed about the ore particles.

to vigorously agitate the mixture of solution and ore to continually break up thefilms. of

saturated solution and separate them from the ore particles so'that there is positive assurancei that all of the ore and solution receives the same treatment during the travel through the agitator. By'my present invention I have provided an agitator similar in many respects to that shown and described .in my said copending application.

The principal object of the invention is to provide improved means for controlling and regulating the air or other agent by means of which agitation is effected.

A. fiirtherobject is to provide improved structural features for an agitator of this class.

Still further objects will be apparent from the following specilication and claims.

In the accompanying drawings which `form a part of this specification I have shown the construction which I now deem preferable, but it will be understood that many changes and modifications may be made within the scope of my invention.

4Oi' the drawings, Figure 1 is a plan view. Fig'. 2 is a longitudinal sectional elevationl taken along the line 2-2 of Fig. yl. Fig. 3 is a sectional plan view taken along the line 3-3ot` Fig. 2. Fig. l'isa cross-sectional view through one ot' the agitating chambers taken along; theline tell of Fig. l. Fig. 5 is a detailed sectional view or one of the valves.

Referring` to the drawings, it will be noted that the agitator comprises a series of chambers or receptacles l, l, these being preferably arrangred in two parallel rows. In the drawings I have shown but a small number of these receptacles but it will be understood ythat the exact number to be used will depend upon the conditions under which the agitator is to operate. I have found, however, that in some cases the best results are. obtained when fifty or more of these separate agitating chambers are provided.

. The chambers of each row are preferably constructed by formingr one long large tank. preferably of sheet metal and dividing` this tank at the proper intervals by transverse partitions. As shown in the drawingmeach ot these tanks is supported by two parallel channels beams 2, Flach tank has parallel vertical side walls 3, 3,- vertical end walls 4,

Il, and a.bottom comprising a narrow flat horizontal part 5, and two-inclined walls 6,

G. All of these parts are preferably formedl lshaped in cross section, is divided into a seriesV of hopper-like pyramidal compartments by means of oppositely inclined'walls 8, 8, and 9, 9,`which are preferably formed of ksheet metal and secured to the walls G, 6 by means of suitable flanges and rivets. EX- tending upward from the lines at which the severall pairs of walls S and 9 join are transverse partitions 10, 10, which are secured at their edges by meansof flanges and rivets to thev main side walls 3, 3. At the tops of the partition walls 10, 10, and preferably formed integrally with them, are transverse Walls 11, 1l, forming substantially horizontal ledges or shelves extending from one side of the tank to the other.v At the end of each of the shelves 11 is an upstanding flange or lip 12, which extends entirely across the tank. It will be seen that by the construction which I have described there are provided two separate series of closely adjacent receptacles or chambers each with vertical side walls and a pyramidal hopper-like bottom. As willbe hereinafter described in detail, means are provided for transferring material from each receptacle or chamber to the' neXt, the material being initially fed through a trough 13, to the receptacle at the initial end of the first series. yAn inclined chute or trough 14 is provided for transferring the vmaterial from the last receptacle of the first series to the first receptacle of the second series.v A spout 15 is provided for discharging the material from the last receptacle of the second series.

Each of the receptacles is provided with means for agitating the material. contained therein and for delivering it to the nextreceptacle in the series.

The agitating and transferring devices for all of the receptacles are similar and a description of one of them will be suflicicnt. In each receptacle 'is a vertical tube or pipe 1G which extends through anaperture in the corresponding shelf 1l. The tube is supported in part by the shelf and inpart by a.

clamp 17, which extends transversely of the n At the upper end of the tube 1G there is al hood 1S which closely engages the top of the pipe, preferably being threaded thereon and has an opening above theshelf 1l and directed toward the next adjacent receptacle. At the bottomof each receptacle and in axial alinement with the tubelG is an air pipe 19\vhich terminates in a nozzle 20 in the receptacle. The nozzle 2O is vided at 21 with an inclined or beveled valve seat and a conoidal valve closure 22 isproprof vided to rest upon 4this valve seat. The

it against lateral ,c displacement and with a vertical stem ,24 which extends upward through the tube 16 and through a suitable aperture in tlieupper part of the, hood 18. The Avalve closure 2:2 and the stem 2l are freely movable upward and the stemA 2l serves to steady the,valve closure and to hold it in upright position and also serves as a weight to tend to hold the valve closed.

It will be observed that the device 22 serves tol close the nozzle 2O by gradually reducing the effective cross area thereof. The pointed end 23 of the said device projects into the orifice of the nozzle, and the air is permitted to flow only through the annular space surrounding this pointed end. As the `air pressure decreases the pointed end 23 extends fart-her and farther into the nozzle until finally the device 22 seats itself, thus entirely closing the orifice. It will be seen that with this construction the full air pressure is maintained at the place of discharge, thus maintaining the maximum air velocity. It will be understood that if the closure or check valve were located at any place other than at the extreme end of the air pipeor nozzle the alii-'pressure wouldbe reduced thereby and thevelocit-y of air flowing from the end of the pipea'vould be reduced.

Below each of the rows of agitating receptacles is an air manifold 25, with which the air pipes 19, 19 are"connected. The two manifolds 25, 25 are connected together by a desirable to hold closed all of the valves except those in the first chambers which" contain ore pulp, but as soon as the chambers have all become filled the valves are all left free to be opened by air pressure. The air passing through the pipe 19 and the nozzle Q0 acts upon the valve closure 22 andlifts it slightly. The air thenrushes outward and upward around the conical closure and passes upward in a diffused stream through the Itube 1G. This rapidly upward ,moving air has several functions. It thoroughly agitates the'pulp mixture within the tube 1G and causes breaking up of the normally fixed relationship of ore and solvent sub-masses. By mixing with the pulp it lightens thecolumn within the tube 16 and causes its upper end to rise to a level considerably above that of the pulp in the outer part of the receptacle. And, as it emerges from the pulp at dashed against the upper-parts of the hood 18 with suliicient force to completely break them up. From the walls of the hood 18 the very finely divided sub-masses o'fore and solution are defiected downward and a considerable proportion of them reach the shelf 11 and from it are discharged by gravity into the next agitating receptacle. In this way there is maintained a continuous flow of pulp from each receptacle to the next and there is assurance that each ore particle will come in contact with a fresh film of solvent solution as it enters each new receptacle.

tis obviously desirable that the agitating action in each receptacle be the same as that in each other' receptacle., and it is largely for this reason that l have provided the automatic valves for the air pipes 19. lt is clear that in. the absence of air pressure each valve will be held closed by its own weight and by the weight oitl `the superposed liquid. Normally, the pressure in the air main and u'iani'l'olds is kept somewhat greater than that actually needed to cause the required agitating action in the tubes. This air pressure serves to lift the valve closures 22 from their seats and within certain' limits the valve closures serve to regulate and equalize the quantity and velocity oit' the air delivered to the tubes. have found that without valves such as l have shown, there is a tendency for the action to be more rapidin some of the tubes than in others, and this tendency is cumulative. 1t' the level in any receptacle once falls below normal, the back pressure on the air is correspondingly reduced and the. flow of air increases. T his increased flow ot air 'arises an increase in the rate of discharge from the top ot' the tube thus still -further reducingthe level ot' the. pulp in the riafeptacle. The i""nal result is that some of the receptacles are kent practically empty while. others are filled to overflowing. By u'ieans oi the valves which l have provided,

this result is entirely prevented. The valves,

on account of' their weight, serve to prevent the too rapid `liow oi air in any one tube and insure uniformity ot action throughout the whole agitator. lllith valves such as l have shown it is possible for a reserve pressure above that actually required to be maintained in the manifolds without the discharge into the tubes ot' too great a quantity oi air or of air at too high a velocity. ln addition lo equaliziug the action in the 'several tubes` the valves serve to distribute the air in each tubo and to cause it to How upward at a number ot' peripherally arranged points and alone' a number oil relatively widely separated lines instead olE in one stream al'. the, cenler ot the tube. The valves at [he end 'l the pipes-19 also have the very important .runetioa or serving to check the the effectiv downward flow of pulp when the air pressure is reduced. Obviously, without the valves the pulp would flow downward into the manifolds in the case of failure of air pressure.

What I claim is z- 1. In an agitator' for ore treatment, the

combination of a receptacle adapted to conv tain a mixture of solvent solution and finely divided ore, a vertical tube mounted in the receptacle and terminating at its lower end above the bottom of' the receptacle, an air nozzle at the bottom of the receptacle below and closely adjacent the lower end of the tube, means for delivering air to the nozzle to agitate the mixture in the tube and force it upward therethrough, means supplemental to the receptacle for receiving the mixture from the upper end of the tube, and means for entering the nozzle to out down cross area thereof.

2. In an agitator for ore treatment, the combination of a receptacle adapted to contain a mixture of solvent solution and nely divided ore, a. vertical tube mounted in the receptacle and terminating at its lower end above the bottom of the receptacle, an air nozzle at the bottom of the receptacle below and closely adjacent the lower end of the tube, means for delivering air to the nozzle to agitato the mixture in the tube and force it upward therethrough, means supplemental to the receptacle for receiving the mixture from the upper end of the tube, and means automatically tending to enter the nozzle to reduce the effective cross area thereof. and finally close it as the air pressure is diminished.

3. In an agitator for ore treatment, the combinationof a receptacle adapted to contain a mixture of solvent solution and finely divided ore, a vertical tube mounted in the receptacle and terminating at its lower end above the bottom of the receptacle, an air pipe connected with the 'receptacle at the bottom thereof below the lower endv of the tube for delivering a stream of' air to a gitate the mixture in the tube and force it upward therethrough, means supplemental to the receptacle for receiving the mixture from the upper end of the tube, and a device adjacent the end of the air pipe for distributing the air and causing it to be delivered to the mixture f'or movement upward through the tube alonga plurality ol relatively widely separated lines.

4. In an agitator' for .,-re treatment, the combination of a receptacle adapted to contain a mixture of solvent solution and finely divided ore, a vertical tube mounted in the receptacle and terminating at its lower end above the bottom of the said receptacle, an air pipe having a terminal nozzle positioned directly below the lower end of the tube and `provided with a valve seat, a valve closure v adapted to rest upontlie said valve seat, a

valve stein connected at its lower end to the valve closure and extending verticallyf upward therefrom through the tube, and a.

Aguide for the upper end of the stem.

5. In an agit-ator for ore treatment, the combination of a receptacle adapted to contain a mixture of solvent solutionand finely divided ore., a vertical tube mounted in the receptacle and terminating at its lower end abovethe bottom of the said receptacle, a shelf having an aperture through which the upper end of tlie tube projects, a deflector above the upper ehd of the tube, an air pipe having a terminal nozzle positioned directly air pipe having a terminal nozzle positioned directly below the lower end of the tube and provided with a valve seat, a valve closure adapted to rest upon the said valve seat, a

valve stem connected at its lower end to the valve closure and extending vertically np.

ward therefrom through the tube, a guide for the upper end of the stein, and a depending finger on the valve closure positioned to lie within the nozzle aperture and to engage the' walls thereof to hold the valve closure against lateral displacement.

"7.. In an agitator for ore treatment, the

vcombination of a series of closely adjacent receptacles for containing a mixture of solvent solution and finely divided ore, therebeing a common dividing wall between each receptacle and the next adjacent one, a series of vertical tubes, one mounted in each receptacle with its lowerend separated fromthe bottom of the receptacle, a. series of air pipes each arranged to deliver air to one of the receptacles directly below the tube to,j agital'e the mixture in the tube and force it upward therethrough, and a series of shelves cach arranged to receive the mixture delivered from the upper end of one of the tubes and to guide itpovcr the common dividing wall and into the next adjacent receptacle.

S. In an agitator for ore treatment, the combination of a series of closely adjacent receptacles for containing a mixture of solvent solution and finely divided ore, there being a common dividing wall between each receptacle and the'next adjacent one, a series of vertical tubes, one mounted in each receptacle with its lower end separated from th bottom of the receptacle. a series of air pipes each arranged to deliver air to one of the receptacles directly below the tube to agitate the mixture in the tube and force it upward therethrough, a series of shelve.' each arranged to receive the mixture delivered from the upper end of one of the tubes and to guide it over the common dividing wall and into the next adjacent receptacle` and a series of deflectors cach arranged immediately above one of the tubes to engage the mixture dis'- charged upward from the tube and deflect it `ing the mixture and delivering lit to the next yadjacent receptacle.

10. In an agitator for ore treatment, the combination of two parallel integral sheet metal side walls,a bottom structure connecting the side walls, a series of sheet metal partitions connected to and extending transversely between the two side walls to form separate receptacles, a series of substantiallyl horizontal shelves extending transversely between the two side walls each connected at one edge with the upper end of one of the partitions` means for delivering into one of -tlie receptacles a mixture of solvent solution and finely divided ore, and means in each of the receptacles for agitating the mixture and delivering it onto the corresponding shelf by which it is guided to the next adjacent receptacle.-

`11. I an agitator for ore treatment, the

combina `ion of a series of adjacent receptacles. eaen adapted to contain a mixture of solvent solution and finely divided ore, a series of`vertical tubes, one mounted in each receptacle with it-s lower end separated from the bottom of the receptacle, a series of air pipes each arranged to deliver air to'one of the receptacles directly below the tube to agit-ate the mixture in the tube and force it upward therethrough. means at the tops of the tubes for receiving the mixture from the tubes and guiding it into the respectively adjacent receptacles` and a plurality of valves, one at the end of each'air pipe. each valve being constructed to be automatically closed and to be opened bV air pressure in `the pipe` aml all of the valves coiiperating to eiualize the. ag'it'atinc and discharging i 2'* 1'* action of the air in the .several receptacles.

12. In an agitator for ore treatment. the combination of a seriesv of adjacent receptacles, each adapted to contain a mixture of solvent solution and finely divided ore, a series of vertical tubes, one mounted in each receptacle with its lower end Separated from the bottom of the receptacle, a series of air the tubes and guiding into the respectively adjacent receptacles, and devices at the ends of the air pipes for equalizing the flow of air from them, whereby a more rapid discharge of mixture from one tube than from another is prevented.

In testimony whereof, I affix my signature, in presence of two witnesses.

CYRUS ROBINSON.

WV. A. Ross. 

